"Special" Rights vs. Equal Rights
It has been rather interesting to watch how certain groups seem to be attempting to gain "special" rights above and beyond those provided to other groups in similar circumstances, and then complain they are being discriminated against if they don't succeed. Example after example has been paraded before the media spotlight. While I'm certain that most Christians simply don't care whether or not tax money is used to teach school children to perform Silent Night, the danger I see is that certain groups use these issues to inflame moderates, and cause nationwide propaganda that is used to fill the coffers of groups who wish special rights based on what God they happen to worship.
If equal rights and equal opportunities were the principles upon which their arguments were based, it would be one thing. However, even though the fighting is couched in those terms, in most cases we find that these groups are demanding MORE than any other similar religion has, yet give no coherent reason for why they should have this special treatment in the face of a constitution under which, even interpreting it the way they demand we do, without "legislating from the bench," states in plain language that religions be treated equally.
Just one example of this phenomenon occurs in the following story, in which a worker, supported by various Christian groups, attempted to force his employer to scrap its quite reasonable policy of no religion in work based work sponsored groups, because it "discriminates against Christians." This is a pure example of wishing special treatment above and beyond that of any other religious group in the organization. I am quite pleased that the 7th Circuit saw it for what it was.
Court upholds GM program accused of religious bias | News | Advocate.com:
A General Motors Corp. program that allows Hispanics, blacks, or gays—but not Christians—to organize in employee groups is not committing religious discrimination, a federal court ruled. GM's Affinity Group diversity program does not discriminate against Christians because it treats all religions equally, the seventh circuit U.S. court of appeals in Chicago ruled Thursday.
The court upheld a decision by a federal judge in Indianapolis, where the original lawsuit was filed by John Moranski, a born-again Christian who works at GM's Allison Transmission plant in Indianapolis. Moranski applied in December 2002 to start an interdenominational Christian employees group as part of the diversity program, according to court documents.